Sketches of My Culture

Sketches of My Culture

ASIN: B00005OC67

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
What happens when an acclaimed 48-year-old professor of Afro-American studies morphs the content of his legendary lectures into hip-hoppish spoken word rhymes? The ivory towers get "jiggy wit' it," that's what. Sketches of My Culture captures this awkward yet useful synergy in a salvo of funk beats and scholarship-fuelled rhymes.

It's easy to overlook the shortcomings in West's lyrical flows, along with some of the pedestrian musical arrangements, because the subject matter is so compelling. After repeated listens of "Stolen King," an exploration of slavery's regrettable legacy recorded over some dusty soul grooves, and "Journey," a discussion of the generational links between spirituals, blues, jazz, and hip-hop, this release (whipping by in 35 minutes) acts as a good audio appendage to West's acclaimed Race Matters. He's not exactly trading dope lyrics with Tricia Rose over some hot rhythm tracks cooked up by DJ Premier, but West's learned flow appeals to all of rap's expanding demo, from shorties on the street corner to elitist intellectuals who enjoy a good dose of 50-cent words, in rhyme. But that said, West shouldn't give up his day job. --Dalton Higgins

Sketches of My Culture,Dr. Cornel West,Artemis Records,Jazz,Pop,Social Commentary,Spoken / Comedy / Radio Shows,Spoken Word

Average customer rating:

The Man's a Buffoon

Dr. Cronel West rules

Don't make the mistake of underrating this from Cornel West.

Wild Wild West

the funniest CD of ALL TIME

Sketches of My Culture
Dr. Cornel West
Manufacturer: Artemis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism

Race Matters

Keeping Faith: Philosophy and Race in America

The Cornel West Reader

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

ASIN: B00005OC67
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Journey
Stolen King
Elevate Your View
3Ms
Frontline
N-Word
Reflections (interlude)
70's Song (with Haskell Jackson Jr.)
Finale
Automobile (outtro)

Amazon.com

What happens when an acclaimed 48-year-old professor of Afro-American studies morphs the content of his legendary lectures into hip-hoppish spoken word rhymes? The ivory towers get "jiggy wit' it," that's what. Sketches of My Culture captures this awkward yet useful synergy in a salvo of funk beats and scholarship-fuelled rhymes.

It's easy to overlook the shortcomings in West's lyrical flows, along with some of the pedestrian musical arrangements, because the subject matter is so compelling. After repeated listens of "Stolen King," an exploration of slavery's regrettable legacy recorded over some dusty soul grooves, and "Journey," a discussion of the generational links between spirituals, blues, jazz, and hip-hop, this release (whipping by in 35 minutes) acts as a good audio appendage to West's acclaimed Race Matters. He's not exactly trading dope lyrics with Tricia Rose over some hot rhythm tracks cooked up by DJ Premier, but West's learned flow appeals to all of rap's expanding demo, from shorties on the street corner to elitist intellectuals who enjoy a good dose of 50-cent words, in rhyme. But that said, West shouldn't give up his day job. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews:

The Man's a Buffoon.......2007-01-27

I hesitate to rate this CD one star because though it is horrendously bad, I really enjoyed listening to it. It is an unintentionally funny CD, heavy with Dr. West's deep, deep meanderings into the soul of his people. I suggest that you purchase one of Dr. West's books to read with this music in the background; that way you get a double dose of his sanctimoniousness.

Dr. Cronel West rules.......2006-12-23

i may have a slight bias because i already agree with most of his ideas. But i was very surprised to see that the production was top notch. One of my favorites right now.

The only gripe i have with the cd is that there are only 10 tracks, and some of them are even songs. You'll be jamming to a track and then you get two or three interludes you have to listen to before getting to the next one. Maybe he should have made two discs, one with music and the other with interludes and poems. Because sometimes i'm in the mood to listen to deep poetry and other times, i just want some jams (like when i'm at the gym or something).

All in all, i think everyone should at least borrow someone's copy of the cd and take a listen to the whole thing all the way through (it's not that long- unfortunately). This is an experience that everyone should have.

Don't make the mistake of underrating this from Cornel West........2006-01-14

As An African living in America, I immediately knew from listening to this CD that many people will make a great mistake of turning their thumbs down.
It is not preachy. Cornel West joins the West African 'griots' who remind a people of the past, in other to tackle the present and hopefully anticipate the future. My three kids- ages 13, 9 and 6 know every line of each song and have learned a lot from Cornel's commentary.
Musically, the CD is great.

Wild Wild West.......2005-03-07

Cornel West is possibly America's most over-rated intellectual; he certainly is the most pompous. Indeed, he left Harvard University largely because President Lawrence Summers questioned whether this ridiculous CD constituted legitimate academic work. West insists that he made the CD to reach the youth of America. Unfortunately for him, the youth of America are actually quite smart and savvy, and have little need for West's inane blather and hollow platitudes. The end product is plainly bizarre. One song involves Cornel West chewing out a number of shallow Afro-American characters for casually using the "N" word amongst themsevles, a track in which West smuggly present himself as superior the average black-man on the street. The music is frankly terrible, and West speaks with such self-indulgence that you can sense how much he likes hearing the quasi-melodious ring of his own voice.
The one redeeming value of the CD is that it is very, very funny. You will laugh your head off as an aging Princeton professor with no artistic sense drones on and on to mediocre rap and funk music. None of the songs make any real sense, but they are hilarious in their lack of coherency and their self-important tone.

the funniest CD of ALL TIME.......2003-05-27

Thinking of buying something to cheer yourself up, a CD by your favorite comic, perhaps? Well, buy this instead. You will NOT be disappointed. I almost choked to death, I was laughing so hard the first time I heard it. I STILL think this is a parody CD. It is UNFATHOMABLE to me that Corny could be quite so clueless. Only thing funnier than this 'music' and his lame 'rapping' is the fact that some of his fans are yet sufficiently devoid of taste and the powers of distinction to LIKE it, just because it's Corny. I am amazed that those people are able to find their keyboards to type in their loving praises of Ol' Corny with their heads so far up their butts.

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